Timothy Allen sectioned indefinitely for killing Samantha Ho because he
believed dancers on ITV show were trying to get to them, court hears

A man beheaded his “saintly” wife and killed their pet dog after suffering a paranoid delusion that dancers on the X Factor were speaking to him and would bring him “eternal damnation”.

Timothy Allen, 40, killed his scientist wife Samantha Ho, 39, at their Cambridgeshire home as they watched an episode of the singing competition programme on the August bank holiday weekend last year.

Allen, who had long-standing psychiatric problems stemming back to a motorbike accident a decade earlier, told police that he believed the dancers were “puppets” being controlled by a puppet master who was coming to get him, Southwark Crown Court heard.

"When she asked him not to kill her, he carried on and had meant to do so"

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting

Ms Ho made a “harrowing and upsetting” call to the police in concern after her husband tried to cut his own throat. When officers arrived, they found Allen bare chested, covered in blood and repeatedly stabbing the couple's border collie, Cherry.

“We have put our faith in the justice system to make amends for these crimes, but despite the outcome of today's sentence, words can never truly express our feelings and the impact of this tragedy.”

He described his sister as “an incredible human being”, saying: “We were all so very proud of her accomplishments in her very short life.

“She inspired those around her to live life fully, even in the simple pleasures - she lived generously, loved deeply and lived life in the moment. We will never forget Samantha”.

Ms Ho, whose family come from Hong Kong, grew up in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, where neighbours recalled her working as a teenager in the Chinese takeaway her parents owned.

A statement from Ms Ho's family said: "We have put our faith in the justice system to make amends for this crime and we welcome today's result. However, no sentence can bring Samantha back.

"Samantha was a well-loved, well respected, kind-hearted young lady.

"She had a bright future ahead of her with lots of aspirations. She wanted to be a great scientist, have time to travel the world, realise her dreams and spend more time with family.

"However, on that fateful day, August 29, 2015, Samantha was tragically taken away from us. That day was a day where a part of us died."

Detective Superintendent Richard Wall, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire major crime unit, added: "This is a tragic case where a woman lost her life and families have been torn apart.

"Nothing will bring Samantha back but I hope today's sentencing, and the conclusion of legal proceedings, will provide some comfort for Samantha's family.

"Our deepest sympathies are with them and her friends at this difficult time."